Archive

July, 2014

Daily News: NDSCS asks for $65 million expansion

July 31, 2014 | Sarah Hoffbeck

By Matthew Liedke

North Dakota State College of Science has its eyes set on expansion of its Fargo campus and is turning to the state legislature to get the ball rolling.

An expansion, estimated at $65 million, is being requested for approval from the North Dakota Board of Higher Education by NDSCS, which is the beginning of the process, according to school President John Richman.

“The Board will go through their budget process and will recommend a list of capital projects to the governor for him to consider in his proposal,” Richman said. “That proposal will then go to the North Dakota Legislature in 2015.”

Currently, NDSCS has a campus in Fargo that started 18 years ago. Originally created for workforce training with no credits available, the location now offers credit programming due to workforce demands.

In the fall semester of 2013, the Fargo location had an enrollment of 300 students. In the coming years, the facility could see enrollment growth of 1,100-1,500, bringing enrollment up to 1,400-2,000 students, Richman said.

“This fall, our class schedule goes from 7 a.m.-10 p.m., that’s pretty well at capacity,” he said. “As it grows, and we are at capacity, the question is raised about fulfilling our mission, which is to educate and train the workforce of North Dakota.”

Recent statistics analyzed by NDSCS officials showed that kindergarten classes in Fargo and West Fargo are averaging 500 students in each of the next five years.

“That is a lot of future graduates,” Richman said.

On top of the high school graduates, Richman also noted that current students who desire a two-year program are not always willing to continue their education in Wahpeton following a year or semester at the Fargo campus.

“We have asked students before at the end of the one-year welding program if they would take a second year of it, and the majority said yes. However, asked if they would travel to Wahpeton for a second year, they said no,” Richman explained. “There are students who simply can’t or won’t commute to Wahpeton.”

An information packet on the project from NDSCS showed the $65 million estimated price includes the following costs:

Despite being a large project in a different location in Fargo, Richman stated that NDSCS’ home remains in the city of Wahpeton.

“We want the local community to know that we aren’t moving and have no intention of moving,” Richman said. “We are not looking to be a bigger campus, we are not looking to move campus, we are looking to continue fulfilling our mission.”

Richman also made clear that the new location is not to compete with North Dakota State University.

“We won’t be in competition for students at NDSU. (NDSU) President Dean Bresciani and I will sign a memorandum of agreement soon that supports this project as well as other collaborative projects between both institutions,” Richman said. “He understands the type of student who wants the campus life isn’t the same as the student who will be going to our Fargo location.”

The project is in the very early phases, though, and Richman added that there are other projects the school is looking to complete ahead of the Fargo location expansion.

“This may not make the board’s list this year and it’s not even our first priority,” Richman explained. “We have an infrastructure project dealing with a water, sewer and storm line in Wahpeton. We asked for that first and the Fargo one second.”

The water line project is expected to cost around $13 million and will be a large undertaking.

Because of this, Richman said NDSCS will look at the Fargo expansion in terms of phases.

“This package can be done through phases. They may give us the money for the land in one session and the building in the next session. So we plan to build this in phases,” he said.

When the project eventually reaches completion, Richman said that despite needing faculty, the new location wouldn’t need any more administration.

“Accreditation-wise and in terms of efficiency, we wouldn’t require another president, so the administration will stay in Wahpeton,” Richman said.

“That current location currently has a Dean of Extended Learning,” Richman added. “And as enrollment grows, we will add faculty for student support and student services.”

District 25 legislators have been notified about the project and Richman said he would meet with those who are newly elected after the November elections. Richman noted that he also met with Fargo legislators and the consensus from them was to “put it in the process.”

“These sometimes take multiple sessions and I’m optimistic we could get something,” Richman said. “We see this as being nothing more than another building, it just happens to be a little bit further north. I believe this will benefit the whole state of North Dakota.”

NDSCS-Fargo to hold Open House session for prospective Students

July 25, 2014 | Sarah Hoffbeck

The North Dakota State College of Science will be holding an Open House session on Friday, August 1 from 3-5 p.m. at NDSCS-Fargo, located at 1305 19th Avenue North, for students interested in taking classes at the Fargo location.

This free come-and-go session is open to the public and will focus on NDSCS-Fargo and Online program options, curriculum and class schedules, tuition costs and financial aid, the application process and any questions. Current NDSCS-Fargo faculty and Enrollment Services representatives will also be present to answer questions. No pre-registration is required to attend the open house.

New courses being offered this fall include: General Business Management, Web Design/Web Developer, Information Systems Administrator and Welding Technology (second year option).

For more information please contact a Fargo Programs Representative at ndscs.fargoprograms@ndscs.edu or 701-231-6935 or visit ndscs.edu/openhouse.

Daily News: NDSCS virtual campus ranked among top 100

July 22, 2014 | Sarah Hoffbeck

By Matthew Liedke

North Dakota State College of Science received recognition for its virtual campus recently as it was ranked among the top 100 best two-year online colleges in the country.

Coming in at No. 40, NDSCS received this recognition from BestColleges.com, a website that compiles lists of different types of colleges and programs.

“We are very honored being the only two-year North Dakota college listed,” said Trish Schrom, dean of extended learning at NDSCS. “Online education is a growing field, and to be named in the top 100, it’s quite an honor.”

Schrom said NDSCS has been offering online classes for 12 years and the ranking, “Validates that we have a good basis for quality standards and that we have reputable faculty and very qualified staff.”

In a statement from NDSCS President John Richman, “We are honored to receive the designation. This is an affirmation of the college’s online options for those students who are not able to be on campus.”

“We have between 700 and 800 students taking online classes during the course of a semester,” Schrom said. “About 300 are online only. The rest are taking classes at either our campus or our Fargo location and an online class to work into their schedule. They usually do this to get the college experience and still have more flexibility.”

Schrom added the online programs are also good for non-traditional students because of the scheduling ability it allows.

“For non-traditional students, many of them may have other obligations. A lot of the time, school isn’t their only obligation, so this gives them that flexibility,” she said.

“It’s a challenge to bring the full college experience, though,” Schrom added. “Most of the courses are taught by our regular faculty who also teach on campus, so they try to get that social interaction they would in the classrooms through ways of discussion boards.

“A lot of teachers are also using virtual labs,” Schrom continued. “They are going in and doing interactive work. For example, during a speech class students may record their speeches and the online class allows other students and the instructor to hear it.”

Because of the growing online presence in today’s world, Schrom expects that it will have a larger influence in the classroom in the coming years.

“I think a trend will be a blended approach, where students might spend two-thirds of a class online and the other part of it be face-to-face,” Schrom explained.

Regardless of what the future holds, NDSCS is committed to continuing its online presence with high standards.

“We really do make sure that all of our classes online deliver a certain level of quality,” Schrom said.

INFORUM: Plans in works for expanded $65 million metro tech college

The North Dakota State College of Science is outgrowing its site here and administrators are proposing an expanded center at a new location.

The project, which has been presented to the state Board of Higher Education, has an estimated price tag of $65 million and would be built in phases if approved by the board and lawmakers.

“Our square footage is gone,” John Richman, president of NDSCS, said last week. “We’re using every square inch of the building.”

For more than 15 years, the two-year Wahpeton-based college has maintained a satellite center on 19th Avenue North near the campus of North Dakota State University.

But enrollment growth and increased demand for workforce training have prompted administrators to request more space.

The Fargo and West Fargo school districts alone are projected to increase a combined 1,500 students in the near future. North Dakota’s workforce need is 27,000 jobs, including 8,000 in the Fargo area, according to figures cited by NDSCS.

The NDSCS center in Fargo has 56,433 square feet serving an enrollment of 687 as of last fall. It trains graduates in fields including manufacturing, information technology and allied health professions, such as nursing.

Classes are from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. four days a week. “In my belief, that’s a pretty full day,” Richman told The Forum Editorial Board in a meeting last week.

Lots of support

To meet projected growth, a study recommended expanding to 210,000 square feet over time, with 170,000 square feet in the first phase on a campus of 15 or 20 acres capable of accommodating 700 to 800 parking spots.

A center of 210,000 square feet would allow all programs to be housed in a single building.

“We’re not asking for another campus,” Richman said, adding that the new center would serve students who commute to class, so residence halls will not be needed.

“This is truly going to be North Dakota’s first community college,” Richman said, adding it would be much like Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Moorhead.

The expanded center would not require additional administrators, with top leadership continuing from NDSCS’s main campus in Wahpeton, Richman said.

Projected costs for the project include $3.45 million for planning, permits and insurance; $9 million for land; almost $8.3 million for furniture, fixtures and equipment; and $38.75 million for construction.

A spokeswoman for interim Chancellor Larry Skogen said he supports the proposal.

“I think Chancellor Skogen thinks this is a great idea,” said Linda Donlin, the university system’s director of communications.

“North Dakota State College of Science has been very successful in its present location,” she added. “We think it’s a wonderful opportunity, both for NDSCS and the university system.”

Industry partners support the project, and so far, legislators who have been briefed on the proposal have been supportive, recognizing the need to train a rapidly expanding workforce, Richman said.

Two phases

NDSCS’ current building is owned by the college’s foundation, a site acquired about 17 years ago from the NDSU Foundation, Richman said.

If the project is approved, the college would seek funding in the 2015-17 budget to acquire land, with later funding requests for design work, followed by construction in two phases.

“We can do this in phases, and I think we need to do it in phases,” with the current building in use until the second phase is complete, Richman said.

A site for a possible expanded center has not been selected, but logically would be in Fargo or West Fargo, where it would be strategically located to serve high schools in the two cities as well as Kindred, Northern Cass and Central Cass.

Although there is a widespread perception that the greatest demand for workers lies in western North Dakota due to the oil boom, the eastern part of the state actually has a greater demand for workers, Richman said.

“This facility, I believe, will help the workforce issues across the state,” he added. “It just happens to be located in the largest city.”

Kenosha News: ‘Train the trainer’ sessions at Gateway get instructors up to speed on latest in indus

July 17, 2014 | Sarah Hoffbeck

By James Lawson

Gateway Technical College, endeavoring to help college educators prepare students with industry-specific skills and certifications to improve their job readiness, is hosting its fourth annual National Coalition of Certification Center Leadership summit.

The first sessions started for some 270 college administrators and instructors Wednesday evening and will continue with workshops, field trips and other sessions Thursday.

Featured speakers include Reggie Newson, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, and John Richman, president of North Dakota State College of Science.

Representatives from Kenosha’s Snap-on Inc., maker of professional tools and equipment, and Trane, an international air conditioning and heating services company, will instruct sessions where they help the educators learn what skills and information students need to know in order to improve their job readiness.

The program is designed to help administrators and educators establish or fine tune their technical education degree programs.

“We do it because we want the faculty to have the latest information in these industries,” said Debbie Davidson, Gateway’s vice president of workforce and economic development.

“This is Snap-on saying, ‘We have a diagnostic tool, and we want students to know how to use it.’ Snap-on has trained Gateway’s instructors; now we will train other instructors how to instruct their students. You can say this is ‘Train the trainer.’”

Two-year colleges that adopt the programs will be able to prepare students with industry certification. The certificates are imbedded in the degree program, Davidson said.

Students who learn the latest industry techniques and information will have an advantage over other graduates who do not have the certification.

The goal is to design a nationwide industry specific certification program.

“The philosophy is to align with the profession so students learn the newest things about a particular industry,” Davidson said. “For example, an auto technician not only learns the fundamentals, but how to use a diagnostic tool.”

She added, “These classes are always hands-on, but this takes it to another level.”

More than 600 students graduate from NDSCS

July 15, 2014 | Sarah Hoffbeck

The North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, N.D., awarded degrees, diplomas and certificates to 619 Wahpeton, Fargo, N.D., and online graduates. Students from 14 states and two international countries, Ghana and Liberia, graduated in 33 areas of discipline.

NDSCS receives Top Marks for Online Options

North Dakota State College of Science was recently ranked No. 40 among two-year colleges for the “100 Best Online Colleges for the 2014 Academic Year” by BestColleges.com.

“We are honored to receive this designation,” said NDSCS President Dr. John Richman. “This is an affirmation of the College’s online options for those students who are not able to be on campus.”

An initial list of colleges offering degrees online was compiled from the latest information from the IPEDS and College Navigator databases, both of which are maintained by the National Center for Education Statistics. From there, schools were narrowed down to only include colleges that had at least two out of the following four data points published in one of those two databases: acceptance, retention, graduation and enrollment rates.

Complete an entire program online or take one of many general education courses. Go to www.ndscs.edu/online to learn more.

NDSCS Summer Enrollment takes a leap

July 10, 2014 | Sarah Hoffbeck

North Dakota State College of Science 2014 summer enrollment has increased almost six percent over 2013 as of Monday, July 7, the College’s official census reporting day. Total enrollment for Wahpeton, Fargo and online students is at 822 compared to 2013 when enrollment was at 779.

This summer, there are 335 full time students and 487 part time students enrolled at NDSCS with 309 freshman and 513 sophomores taking classes. Meanwhile, the percentage of students from North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota represents nearly 95 percent of the student body.

NDSCS President John Richman attributes the continued growth to the College’s 98 percent placement rating for graduates who are launching their careers or transferring on to four-year institutions to continue their education.

“NDSCS continues to be a smart choice for those seeking well-paying careers right out of college as well as for those who plan to transfer on to obtain a bachelor’s degree after graduation,” said Richman. “Our faculty and staff work diligently to help our students succeed while our industry partners contribute to a win-win educational experience. Many of our students have jobs already waiting for them when they enroll.”

Bang appointed National Council for Workforce Education President-Elect

July 03, 2014 | Sarah Hoffbeck

North Dakota State College of Science Dean of Technologies and Services Barbara Bang has been named President-Elect of the National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE).

Previously, Bang has served as both the Vice President for Communication and the Regional Director for Region V, which consists of the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Her term is set to begin on July 1, 2014 where for one year she will serve as President-Elect and the next year as President.

The NCWE, an affiliate council of the American Association of Community Colleges, provides a national forum for administrators and faculty in workforce education and basic skills, as well as representatives of business, labor, military and government, to affect and direct the future role of two-year and other post-secondary institutions in workforce education and economic development.

By placing a strong emphasis on student success in exemplary programs, NCWE serves as the national leader by providing resources and expertise to community colleges to enhance their efforts in preparing the current and future workforce in a global economy.

The NCWE office is located in Bellingham, Wash. For more information visit www.ncwe.org.

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